Pulley block

ABSTRACT

Rope or line block characterized by an intermediate connector disposed between ends of sheave side plates or cheeks and a shackle which, by choice of its position, relative to the cheeks, permits the connector to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the pulley axis or be secured against such rotation in alternative angular positions such as 90* apart, to thereby orient the shackle carried by same in alternative positions. Two shackles of alternative form may be provided, one of which permits the shackle to rotate about a transverse axis of the connector and the other which prevents such rotation.

ite States Ptent Cunningham 1 1 Dec. 12, 1972 [s41 PULLEY BLOCK3,526,389 9/1970 l-lorgan ..294/195 [72] lnventorz. Gerald A.Cunningham, Ward,

Colo Primary Examiner-Harvey C. Hornsby Attorne Sheridan, Ross & Fields[73] Assignee: Blockits, Inc., Ward, Colo. y 22 Filed: July 19,1971 [57]ABSTRACT [21] APPL 163,568 Rope or line block characterized by anintermediate connector disposed between ends of sheave side plates orcheeks and a shackle which, by choice of its posi- [52] US. Cl ..254/15,254/192 R, 287/91, on, relative to the cheeks, permits the connector to1 294/82 rotate about an axis perpendicular to the pulley axis or bsecured againstsuch rotation in alternative angular [5 he 11 0 Search..254/ 190-196, positions Such as 9 0 apart, to thereby Orient the 9294/82 shackle carried by same in alternative positions. Two 56 R f dshackles of alternative form may be provided, one of 1 e erences whichpermits the shackle to rotate about a transverse UNITED STATES PATENTSaxish of ttitre connector and the other which prevents suc re a mu.297,l28 4/1884 Garrett ..254/l92 2,519,288 8/1950 Roberson ..294/82 R 6Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEU nEc 12 I972 INVENTOH GERALD A.CUNNINGHAM A TTORNEYS PULLEY BLOCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In theart or sport of sailboating it is common practice to employ a myriad ofrope or line fittings including blocks which rotatably support one ormore sheaves around which the line is trained. The blocks areconstructed in many forms, each of which serves a particular purpose inthe sail rigging. Various fittings, blocks, and rigging arrangements aredisclosed in the catalogue of Seaboard Marine Supply Co., Inc., 214Montauk Highway, lslip, N.Y.

Such blocks comprise, in general, two or more spaced side plates orcheeks between which a sheave or sheaves are rotatably supported, thecheeks terminating at one side of the sheave, and to which a suitableintermediate connector is secured. The connector, aforesaid, may carry aterminal fitting in the form of an eye or shackle. In one form, forexample, identified as style SQ, an intermediate connector is pivotallysecured to the cheeks for rotation about an axis parallel to the sheaveaxis which carries a shackle rotatable about a parallel axis which. maybe optionally secured to the connector for rotation about an axis 90 tosaid parallel axis. In another form, identified as style SS, the shackleis similarly mounted but may also rotate about an axis perpendicular tothe sheave axis, thus providing a universal joint.

Each of the two types referred to is designed to serve a specificpurpose in the rigging and normally are not interchangeable for suchpurposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the present invention provides a blockwhich may serve the purpose of both types referred to by an alternativerelative positioning of its parts. As an example of this versatility,the boat rigger may employ a single block type which serves each of thetwo purposes, as heretofore referred to, or-serves both of the purposes.Thus, if the boat rigger at some time during a rerigging, requires twoblocks of the same type, rather than different types, the blocksavailable in his rigging may be readily converted to serve all of thedesired purposes, thus obviating discarding an unneeded block. This isalso of advantage in the original rigging since the rigger, with onlyone type of block, may make it serve different purposes.

The end result referred to is attained by providing a connector member,intermediate the block cheeks and shackle, which may be secured to thechecks in two different positions. In a first position such member mayrotate relatively about an axis perpendicular to the sheave axis. In itssecond position it is restrained against the rotation just referred to.Also, when in the second position it may be optionally secured in twoangular positions 90 apart so that the shackle carried by same may bedisposed in alternative positions. By an alternative choice of theshackle, the shackle may pivot in the same manner as in the prior artreferred to or be non-rotatably affixed to the intermediate connectormember, the foregoing being the general objects of the invention.

Further objects, advantages, and salient features will become moreapparent from the detailed description to follow, the appended claims,and the accompanying drawing to now be briefly described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevation and section,as viewed in the direction of line 1, FIG. 2, illustrating one positionof assembly of the parts;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 22, FIG. 1, illustrating anotherposition of assembly of the parts;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 33, FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section of FIG. 2 illustrating an alternativeconstruction;

FIG. 5 is a like section of FIG. 2 illustrating another alternativeconstruction, and

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of an alternative clevis construction whichmay be employed in any of the previous figures.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, andfirst to FIGS. 1-3, block 10 comprises a pair of side plates or cheeks12,12a between which sheave 1-4 is disposed and mounted for rotation ona pin 16 which also maintains the cheeks in fixed spaced relationship.The cheeks terminate in ends 18, 18a between which are disposed a spacer20, a pair of screws 22,22 extending through the cheeks and spacer tomaintain the checks in fixed spaced relation at the cheek ends. Thespacer halves, to be described, may be molded directly to the cheeks.

Spacer 20 is formed of two halves 20a,20b which abut along a centralplane 24 and a circular aperture 26 extends through the spacer halveswith a semi-circular aperture in each. A recess 28, square in crosssection, surrounds aperture 26. Intermediate connector 30 comprises acircular shank 32 having an enlarged head 34, square in cross section,disposed at one end thereof and a square head 36 disposed at the otherend, head 36 being of a size to fit square recess 28. FIG. 1 illustratesone position of the intermediate connector wherein head 36 abuts thelower faces of the spacers, in which position the intermediate connectoris free to swivel or rotate about the axis of shank 32. FIG. 2illustrates an alternative position in which square head 36 is disposedwithin square recess 28, in which position it is locked to the spacersagainst swiveling movement relative thereto.

In the assembly of the parts, pin 16 and screws 22 are removed,separating the spacers along their central abutting plane and theintermediate connector is disposed in the selected position (FIG. I orFIG. 2) to obtain either swivelling or locked relationship. As will alsobe apparent, when in locked position, head 36 may be disposed withinrecess 28 in selected angular position apart. This orients shackle 38,pivotally carried by head 36 on pin 40, in selective positions 90 aboutthe axis of the intermediate connector shank.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative form of spacers in which their lowerfaces are provided with a square recess 28a, which fits head 36, recess42 being circular and of a diameter to permit square head 36 to swiveltherein (as shown). As will be apparent, when in its other position (notshown), the intermediate connector is locked against rotation. Anadvantage which accrues to this construction, as compared to that ofFIGS. 1-3, is that by suitable choice of the length of shank 32, head 36may be disengaged from recess 28a by axial movement and re-engaged in a90 position, thus permitting the latter selection without disassembly ofthe block.

FIG. 5 illustrates another alternative form of the invention whereinrecess 28b is closed at the lower side thereof, rather than open asillustrated in the previously described figures. In this construction,which requires disassembly to reposition the parts, recess 22b may besquare and the other recess may be circular, to permit swiveling action,or the square and circular recesses may be reversed.

FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative form of shackle 38a, provided withoffset shoulders 44, which prevent the shackle from rotating about pin40.

As illustrated and so far described, head 36 and its cooperating recessare square which permits a choice of 90 shackle orientation whichprovides a selection which fits the needs of major rigging arrangements.As will be apparent, however, the 90 selection may also be retained witha connector head and cooperating recess having a number of sides whichare a multiple of four. For example, an octagonal head and recessprovides not only the 90 orientation, but also, intermediate positions45 therebetween.

Also, while a single sheave block has been illustrated, it will beapparent that it is within the purview of the invention to employ morethan one sheave when greater force multiplication is required.

lclaim: 1 In a pulley block of the type having spaced cheeks with atleast one sheave rotatably supported therebetween, the cheeks havingterminal portions between which an intermediate connector is affixed,said connector having a rigging fitting, such as a shackle, affixedthereto, the improvements, in combination, comprising:

a. a spacer disposed between said terminal portions, said spacer beingformed of two members abutting at a separation plane therebetween,

b. an aperture extending through said members with substantially equalportions thereof in each member, the axis of the aperture being disposedin a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheave axis,

0. said connector having a shank adapted to be disposed within saidaperture in alternative axially spaced positions therein,

d. said connector having an enlarged non-circular head on one endthereof adapted to engage abutment surfaces on said members,

e. first and second abutment surfaces on said members, each surroundingsaid aperture and spaced axially therealong,

f. the first of said abutment surfaces being of a shape to receive saidhead and prevent rotation thereof relative to said members,

g. the second abutment surface being of a shape to permit said head torotate relative to said members, and

h. means for detachably securing said members between said cheeks,

i. the construction and arrangement being such that when said membersare separated, said head may be selectively disposed adjacent either ofsaid abutments, said head having a number of equally spaced sides whichis a multiple of four, whereby said head, when disposed adjacent thefirst abutment surface, may be disposed in angular relative positionswhich are apart. 2. A block in accordance with claim 1 wherein said headis square in cross section.

3. A block in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for detachablysecuring said members between said cheeks includes bolts disposed atopposite sides of said aperture.

4. A block in accordance with claim 1 wherein said rigging fitting is ashackle secured to said connector by a pivot pin.

5. A block in accordance with claim 4 wherein the shackle is soconstructed to rotate about the pivot pin.

6. A block in accordance with claim 4 wherein the shackle is soconstructed to be non-rotatable about the pivot pin.

2. A block in accordance with claim 1 wherein said head is square incross section.
 3. A block in accordance with claim 1 wherein said meansfor detachably securing said members between said cheeks includes boltsdisposed at opposite sides of said aperture.
 4. A block in accordancewith claim 1 wherein said rigging fitting is a shackle secured to saidconnector by a pivot pin.
 5. A block in accordance with claim 4 whereinthe shackle is so constructed to rotate about the pivot pin.
 6. A blockin accordance with claim 4 wherein the shackle is so constructed to benon-rotatable about the pivot pin.